Christmas Joy: Jesus' Salvation, Pt. 1

Before Jesus was born, He existed for all eternity as the Second Person of the Godhead. He created the world, actively sustained it, and still does today.

Christmas Joy: Jesus' Salvation, Pt. 1

"All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

(Colossians 1:16-17)

It is the most wonderful time of the year, indeed! Who doesn't love Christmas, unless you are the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge? I love Christmas, and celebrating Jesus' birth is what Christmas is all about. The fact that God took on human flesh in the Incarnation is astounding. I think we will spend an eternity trying to wrap our minds around this miracle of Almighty God.

This week in our devotions, we will continue with "Christmas Joy" by focusing on the salvation Jesus has provided for us. Matthew 1:21 says, "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Jesus continues to fulfil this prophecy given by the angel before He was born to the Virgin Mary.

Before Jesus was born, He existed for all eternity as the Second Person of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see Him in the Old Testament in many Christophanies (appearances of Christ); see Judges 6 for an example. One of the astonishing and powerful things He has done is not only creating the world but also actively sustaining what He created.

"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3) Colossians 1:16-17 states: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

Jim Denison writes: "And yet, he reduced his unimaginable omnipotence down to become a tiny embryo in the womb of a peasant teenage girl. He did this knowing that he would be born as a helpless baby, grow up in relative poverty, face vehement opposition, and suffer the worst form of torture known to history at his crucifixion. . . . In 1936, King Edward VIII announced his abdication, choosing to give up the British throne to marry a twice-divorced American socialite. Jesus gave up immeasurably more for you and me. When I consider the Incarnation, I think of C. S. Lewis's line: 'If you want to get the hang of it, think how you would like to become a slug or a crab.'" (Source.)

For the remainder of our devotions this week, we will move ahead about 30 years. We will study how Jesus, the Eternal Creator God, born of the Virgin Mary, lived His life, and how He saved and still saves today.